Maria is a PhD Candidate at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience. Her research focuses on autism symptoms following exposure to extreme institutional deprivation early in life within the English and Romanian adoptees study.

Research Interests:

• Early adversity
• Autism
• Institutional deprivation
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Key Publications

Rodriguez‐Perez, M., Chandler, S., Kennedy, M., Charman, T., Simonoff, E., & Sonuga‐Barke, E. (2025). What Is Distinctive About Autism Arising Following Severe Institutional Deprivation? A Direct Comparison With a Community Sample of Early Diagnosed Autistic People. Autism Research.

Rodriguez‐Perez, M., Kennedy, M., Barker, E. D., Kreppner, J., Solerdelcoll, M., & Sonuga‐Barke, E. J. (2023). The adult outcome of childhood quasi‐autism arising following extreme institutional deprivation. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64(9), 1292-1302.